CATEGORIES

Wonderful to sign off as a winner at Twickenham

CHARLIE AMESBURY THE FORMER HARLEQUINS, NEWCASTLE, SALE, BRISTOL AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY WINGER RUGBY

Sweeney: Six Nations could go to pay TV

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has not ruled out some of the Six Nations games disappearing behind a paywall.

North v South games have set us up well for Six Nations

Q&A ALAN DICKENS ON THE RECORD

Matera must face punishment insists horrified Hewitt

ASHTON Hewitt has slammed World Rugby and the game in general for paying lip service to the issue of racism after Argentina captain Pablo Matera returned to action.

Lipman's concussion diary shows the problem

By his own admission, Michael Lipman estimates to have been knocked out 30 times over the course of a 13-year professional career. During his last season in the Premiership, the former England flanker suffered five bouts of concussion.

French feelgood factor is shortlived

French rugby really should still be basking in the moral-winners’ glow of last Sunday’s Autumn Nations’ Cup final – but, these days, reality comes at you harder than a Georgian prop at an attacking 5m scrum.

Blues fly-half Jarrod wanted at Kingsholm

GLOUCESTER are weighing up a move for Wales and Cardiff Blues playmaker Jarrod Evans.

Irish must up tempo to sap Sharks power

TOM Homer has warned London Irish to front-up or be smashed by a power-packed Sale side who in recent years have routinely embarrassed the Exiles.

Records fail to hide Tri-Nations letdown

26th edition of the annual southern hemisphere Rugby Championship

Professional game is fast losing its soul

SO there I was last Sunday night at a deserted Haywards Heath Hospital – and that is another story – and suddenly I was besieged by what I can only describe as May Day calls from three of rugby’s great and good. It was like sitting in the confession box, sworn to secrecy while listening to everybody’s intimate but previously unthinkable thoughts.

Joyce hits hat-trick but perfect Quins power on

A RAMPANT second-half showing from Harlequins kept their perfect record intact, clinching a seventh consecutive bonus-point win.

Morale-boosting finish to Wayne's annus horribilis

SO that’s the end of 2020 for Wales. I think most people will be glad to see the back of this year after it has been dominated by Covid-19 and I’m sure Wayne Pivac and his team will feel the same.

Have World Rugby the wit to save our game?

There are worrying numbers of lifelong rugby aficionados out there who believe the northern hemisphere game has lost its bite and are losing patience with its efforts to gum the audience into submission.

Cropper's coming, but not just yet says Deano

NEWCASTLE continue to defy the pundits and thoroughly deserved this win over a flat and depleted Wasps team.

Evans aims to put on a variety show for the fans

AMBITIOUS fly-half Lloyd Evans says Gloucester will happily eschew a slavish kicking game if his side keep racking up thrilling victories like last week’s over Wasps.

England must score four tries against French 2nds

THERE is always a danger in making too many changes at the international level and still expecting a team to function smoothly.

Bath weather fly-half storm to canter home

A MUSCULAR display by the Bath pack laid the foundations for a bonus-point win that got the West Country side’s season up and running.

France Still Lack Shape To Conquer The World

I Do not see France as the best side in the 2020 Six Nations, mainly because England’s wins over Wales and Ireland were bigger in terms of team performances. By comparison, France are still a side relying on individuals to produce moments of magic to win matches, rather than team-work.

Flood's Late Winner Nicks It For Falcons

TOBY Flood scored a match-winning try in added time to secure Falcons’ second win on the trot to start the new season.

Scott wants to see Wales' nasty side

SCOTT Quinnell has described Wayne Pivac’s Wales as “too nice” and told the side to quickly find a hard edge or risk sliding further down World Rugby’s rankings.

Safety-first France book place in final

AN experimental France side ran in five tries against a dogged Italy in Paris to book their place in the Autumn Nations Cup final against England at Twickenham next weekend

Please can we have more Ali and less Mayweather

FOR someone like me who watches boxing occasionally, I do it for the attacking boxers. It’s not that I don’t appreciate great defensive boxers and counter-punchers like Floyd Mayweather, but Mohammed Ali was always the main attraction for me.

The control freaks will stifle rugby fans' interest

“Borthwick also appeared to have a problem answering questions from the media”

Dominici, so strong on pitch, so fragile off

“‘Domi’ had been fighting his demons virtually since childhood”

Cole relying on Wiggy to drive Tigers standards

LEICESTER prop Dan Cole is backing veteran scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth to help his side surge to their best Premiership start in five years.

Championship consider return to playoff system

NOTTINGHAM chairman Alistair Bow says he would welcome plans for a shorter, conference-based Championship season with the title decided by play-offs.

The Lone Ranger rides again with Gorgadze

Watching Beka Gorgadze play England and Wales on his own was an interesting experience, the young Georgian No.8’s carrying and tackling and organising and all-round stand-up-to-be-countedness confirming him as a back rower of undisputed international quality. Which is good news for Georgia. One down, just the 14 to go.

Now We Must Up Our Game For England

Well it was a win and a win is what Wales will take right now. It would have been unthinkable to lose to Georgia and thankfully that fate was avoided.

Bird's-Eye View From The Old South Stand

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful

Kepu's hungry to tick that final box

DANIEL GALLAN finds out what keeps Wallaby great Sekope Kepu motivated